Mobile terminal apparatus / Kyocera Corporation

Title: Mobile terminal apparatus.Abstract: A mobile terminal apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first display section, a second display section aligned with the first display section, and a control section configured to control display of the first and second display sections. The control section is configured to display, on at least one of the first and second display sections, a key object to switch a display mode of the first and second display sections. The control section is configured to switch the display mode between a first mode where an execution screen for one application is displayed on the first and second display sections and a second mode where an execution screen for one of two applications is displayed on the first display section and an execution screen for the other of the two applications is displayed on the second display section, based on an operation to the key object. ...

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal apparatus, such as a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or a tablet PC.

2. Description of the Related Art

There has been proposed a mobile terminal apparatus such as a mobile phone which is provided with two displays. For example, two displays are configured to be aligned with each other (for example, refer to JP-A-Hei.9-305262).

In a mobile terminal apparatus, however, a plurality of application programs (hereinafter, simply referred to as “applications”) may be executed in parallel. When the mobile terminal apparatus has two displays as described above, execution screens of two executed applications can be displayed in the two displays, respectively. Hereinafter, this display mode is referred to as a “two-screen display”.

On the other hand, an execution screen of one executed application may be displayed on one large display surface obtained by combining display surfaces of the two displays. Hereinafter, this display mode is referred to as a “full-screen display”.

In the above configuration, the convenience for the user may be significantly improved if a display mode can be easily switched between the two-screen display and the full-screen display.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an aspect of the present invention provides a mobile terminal apparatus capable of easily switching its display mode between two-screen display and full-screen display.

According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal apparatus comprising: a first display section; a second display section aligned with the first display section; and a control section configured to control display of the first and second display sections. The control section is configured to display, on at least one of the first and second display sections, a key object to switch a display mode of the first and second display sections. The control section is configured to switch the display mode between a first mode where an execution screen for one application is displayed on the first and second display sections and a second mode where an execution screen for one of two applications is displayed on the first display section and an execution screen for the other of the two applications is displayed on the second display section, based on an operation to the key object.

In the above mobile terminal apparatus, the key object may include a first key object corresponding to the first display section and a second key object corresponding to the second display section. In this case, when the first key object is operated in a state where the display mode is the second mode, the control section is configured to display on the first and second display sections an execution screen for an application whose execution screen has been displayed on the first display section in the second mode. When the second key object is operated in a state where the display mode is the second mode, the control section is configured to display on the first and second display sections an execution screen for an application whose execution screen has been displayed on the second display section in the second mode.

In the above mobile terminal apparatus, when the key object is operated for switching from the first mode to the second mode, the control section may be configured to display on the second display section an execution screen for an application executed in a background.

In the above mobile terminal apparatus, when the key object is operated for switching from the first mode to the second mode, the control section may be configured to start a pre-set application and displays on the second display section an execution screen for the started pre-set application if no application is executed in the background. Alternatively, when the key object is operated for switching from the first mode to the second mode, the control section may be configured to display on the second display section an execution screen for an application which is related to a latest operation in an operation history if a plurality of applications are executed in the background.

The above mobile terminal apparatus may further comprise a detection section configured to detect an input on the first and second display sections. In this case, the detection section is configured to detect an input corresponding to an operation to the key object display on the at least one of the first and second display sections.

In the above mobile terminal apparatus, the control section may be configured to display the key object when the detection section detects an input corresponding to a predetermined display operation in a state where the key object is not displayed. For example, when the detection section detects a movement of an input position, the control section may be configured to display the key object as determining that the predetermined display operation is detected.

In the above mobile terminal apparatus, in a state where a hyperlink is set on an execution screen for an application displayed on the first and second display sections in the first mode, the control section may be configured to switch the display mode from the first mode to the second mode and display on the second display section an execution screen for an application started based on the hyperlink when the detection section detects an input corresponding to an operation on the hyperlink.

The above mobile terminal apparatus may further comprise a changing section configured to change between a first state where one of the first and second display sections is exposed to an outside and a second state where both the first and second display sections are exposed to the outside. In this case, the control section is configured to delete the key object when the second state is changed into the first state in a state where the key object is displayed.

The above mobile terminal apparatus may further comprise a changing section configured to change between a first state where one of the first and second display sections is exposed to an outside and a second state where both the first and second display sections are exposed to the outside, and a storage section. In this case, the control section is configured to store the display mode at the time of the second state in the storage section when the second state is changed into the first state, and configured to control the first and second display sections to become the display mode stored in the storage section when the first state is changed into the second state.

According to another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon and readable by a computer of a mobile terminal apparatus including a first display section and a second display section aligned with the first display section, the computer program, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to perform operations comprising: displaying a key object to switch a display mode of the first and second display sections; and switching the display mode between a first mode where an execution screen for one application is displayed on the first and second display sections and a second mode where an execution screen for one of two applications is displayed on the first display section and an execution screen for the other of the two applications is displayed on the second display section, based on an operation to the key object.

According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a mobile terminal apparatus including a first display section and a second display section aligned with the first display section, the method comprising: displaying a key object to switch a display mode of the first and second display sections; and switching the display mode between a first mode where an execution screen for one application is displayed on the first and second display sections and a second mode where an execution screen for one of two applications is displayed on the first display section and an execution screen for the other of the two applications is displayed on the second display section, based on an operation to the key object

According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a mobile terminal apparatus capable of easily switching its display mode between a two-screen display and a full-screen display.

The effect or significance of the present invention will become more apparent by the following explanation of an illustrative embodiment. However, the following illustrative embodiment is just an example when implementing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiment described below at all.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of a mobile phone according to an illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an operation for changing the mobile phone from a closed state to an open state in the illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of the mobile phone according to the illustrative embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing a state where a launcher screen is displayed on first and second display surfaces and an application is executed by an operation on the launcher screen in the illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the procedure of display control for switching the display mode from a full-screen display to a two-screen display in the illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a transition state of a screen display when the display control shown in FIG. 5 related to the illustrative embodiment is executed;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the procedure of display control for switching the display mode from a two-screen display to a full-screen display in the illustrative embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a transition state of a screen display when the display control shown in FIG. 7 related to the illustrative embodiment is executed;

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20121025|20120272128|mobile terminal apparatus|A mobile terminal apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first display section, a second display section aligned with the first display section, and a control section configured to control display of the first and second display sections. The control section is configured to display, on at least one of |Kyocera-Corporation